Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40783603›Full record

ArticleCommunications medicine2025

Association of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status with risk of influenza-like illness and loss of workdays in healthcare workers.

Tamara Dörr, Joanne Lacy, Tala Ballouz, Alexia Cusini, Fabian Grässli, Sarah Haile, Emina Kocan, J Carsten Möller, Milo A Puhan, Matthias Schlegel and 8 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Communications medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Tamara Dörr *HOCH, Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen, Division of Infectious Diseases, Infection Prevention and Travel Medicine, St.Gallen, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6033-1037
Joanne Lacy *Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Tala BallouzEpidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2334-8600
Alexia CusiniCantonal Hospital Graubuenden, Chur, Switzerland.
Fabian GrässliHOCH, Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen, Division of Infectious Diseases, Infection Prevention and Travel Medicine, St.Gallen, Switzerland.
Sarah HaileEpidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Emina KocanGeriatric Clinic St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
J Carsten MöllerCenter for Neurological Rehabilitation Zihlschlacht, Zihlschlacht, Switzerland.
Milo A PuhanEpidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Matthias SchlegelHOCH, Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen, Division of Infectious Diseases, Infection Prevention and Travel Medicine, St.Gallen, Switzerland.
Matthias von KietzellHirslanden Clinic Stephanshorn, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Markus RüttiFuerstenland Toggenburg Hospital Group, Wil, Switzerland.
Reto StockerHirslanden Clinic Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9869-7894
Danielle Vuichard GysinThurgau Hospital Group, Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Muensterlingen, Switzerland.
Christian R KahlertHOCH, Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen, Division of Infectious Diseases, Infection Prevention and Travel Medicine, St.Gallen, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0784-3276
Stefan P KusterHOCH, Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen, Division of Infectious Diseases, Infection Prevention and Travel Medicine, St.Gallen, Switzerland.
Philipp KohlerHOCH, Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen, Division of Infectious Diseases, Infection Prevention and Travel Medicine, St.Gallen, Switzerland. philipp.kohler@h-och.ch.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0427-8934
SURPRISE+ Study Group

Funding

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (Swiss National Science Foundation) PZ00P3_179919
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn the post-pandemic phase, the value of annual SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccination in healthcare-workers is unclear. In this multicentre cohort study, we sought to determine the association of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status and other risk factors with the occurrence of influenza-like respiratory illness and workdays lost due to influenza-like respiratory illness.

methodsDuring a period of high SARS-CoV-2 community transmission (November 2023 to May 2024), we collected weekly data on symptoms and sick day leave and used negative binomial regression to identify risk factors for these outcomes among 1745 healthcare workers. To single out the effect of the vaccine and account for potential confounding, additional inverse probability weighted analysis was performed.

resultsIn both analyses, we show that more SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations are associated with a higher risk of influenza-like respiratory illness and workdays lost. For influenza-like respiratory illness, the association is stronger with a more recent timing of the vaccination rather than the number of vaccinations, which suggests that the effect wanes over time. In contrast, seasonal influenza vaccination is associated with a decreased risk for both outcomes.

conclusionsBased on our data, we conclude that SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccination does not contribute to the protection of the healthcare workforce in a post-pandemic setting. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination may even temporarily increase the likelihood of symptomatic infection and workday loss.

Identifiers

PMID40783603
PMCPMC12335509

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.